Max Calaf Seve: Nalukatak (working title)

Work in Development

Drawing upon research into the origins of trampolines, Max came across the old tradition Nalukataq; an Inuit festival to celebrate the melting of the ice, where people are tossed up into the air in celebration…

Max often wonders why he decided to jump on a trampoline and reflects on his relationship and attachment to this apparently unanimated circus/gymnastics equipment:‘The feeling of floating in the air, wanting to extend the suspension indefinitely... it’s as if he wanted to be tossed up as a constant celebration. But at other times the work is hard and unpleasant. It is as if to jump with the hope of one day flying away or to being tossed up by a shockwave after an explosion, an earthquake, an accident.’

A trampoline, a structure made of bamboo, a freezer… represent a place in nowhere land, a sparse place, a window into the artist mind. Driftwood and objects found on the riverbanks and shores of the country are used to create mask, modes of transportation, costumes and ever changing landscapes.

The show is inspired by the lives of the traditional Inuit life: social, medical, sexual and religious. A prism through which Max tries to gives a more honest account of our own experiences.

‘Nalukataq’ examines a narrative of emotional journeys, different facets within oneself and the impact we have on the environment. Creating a poetical landscape where circus, humor, absurdity, trampoline and masks merge in a storytelling that ultimately has universal resonance.

Current state of project

The project has been twice supported by the National Centre for Circus Arts' Lab:time scheme. The first round of support explored building the structure and testing its resistance. The second round looked at what skills could be used within the structure and the possibilities for performance. The project has also been supported through Arts Council England for the first phase of R&D.

Looking for

Co-commissioning, Development Time, Pre-bookings

Set / rigging & technical details

Self-contained structure, using a trampoline surrounded with bamboo structures.